The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1887-10-27
MAxlMlLIAN,s LAST MoMENrs
Regent Disclosures Regarding the Last
Hours of the Emperor.

RecenE Disclosures Regarding tho "SO
Hours of the Emperor
rCor Boston HeraId.l
II was in Oueretaro that Maximlllan
made his final stand after the Wltn7
.drawal of the French troops at WorG
of warning from Mr.. Seward. 1t Is a
lovely old city, with splendid aqueoucC
in the Eoman manner, many ancient
and picturesque churches, and so!t
and genial climate. Then, as now, IL
was a stronghold of the churcn party,
the very citadel OF Catnollclsm III
Mexico. Macmillan was here bes1eged
onJ overthrown and imprisoned In the
convent of the Capuchinos, ana tnence,
after the famous court martial, LED out
tn the Hill of the Bells to be shot. Re-
cent disclosures regarding the last hours
of the emperor will destroy many
legends of the fatal day, and will here
relate the contents of adocument when
the priest Soria lately dictated shortly
nrior To his own death. ! Oria was the
emneror's confessor, and was with
him during his last few days, and what
he here saws must pass into history as
the true account of Maximilian's last
moments, an account not yet printed
in English. It was of Soria that Maxi
milan said: Tits / who must console
this good priest, and not let him become
utterly overcome.
s'The night before his death, says
the confessor Soria, ''the emperor wrote
two letters, one to the pope ana the
other to his mother. He connded DoCn
to me, together with handkerchief TOT
his mother.
'sOn the following morning / accom-
Danied him to the place of execution.
| The cortege was composed OF three
wretched coaches. / got into the hrst
| with the emperor, while Miramon and
| Me}ia occupied, with their cOnfessors,
| the other two.
| "Hardly had we left the convent Of
| the Capuchinos when | was surprised to
! sea Macmillan strike his breast, say
RT have put eight handkerchiefs
here to keep the blood from staining
IAN the rest of the way the emperor
busted himself with praying and
recommending his soul to God. But
on seeing the Hill Of the Bells he ex-
claimed:
g There is where I had thought to
hoist the standard of victory, and there
is where I am going to die. Life is
play 49,,
And after some moments Oh SIIouCo
he added: what beautiful view
And what beautiful day to die?
when we had arrived at the place OF
execution it was found difficult to open
the door of the coach.
Then Macmillan, being impatient
leaped out of the window, knocking on
his hat.
''He handed me the crucif1x, embrac-
ing me. He also embraced Miramor
and Ne ia, distributed some gold coins
among the soldiers who were to shoo
him, and then, in strong voice pro
nounced in Spanish these words: :
forgive everybody and / ask that al
may forgive me, and desire that my
blood, which is going to be she'd ma!
be for the good of Mexico. Long liv'
Mexicol Long live her independence!
, Immediately he placed his hand OF
his breast, indicating the spot for tn
, soldiers to take aim at. Then tn
drums sounded, and in the presence O
the 4, 900 soldiers assembled it was pro
, claimed that whoe or should raise hi:
voice in behalf of the condemned NAL
would be made to suffer the same pen
atty. Not a murmur was heard anon!
the immense crowd standing behind tn
troops.
cat a given signal the three platoon
:, fired. Miramon and Me ia fell dead a
once but Macmillan did not die at tn
first discharge and uttered three groans
Then they gave him the coup de grace.
The priest Soria denied that Max
, milan, as the legend 'oes, gave the pos
, of honor at the ex' ution to Miramor
, saving: "A brave III n merits the re
; spect of his sovereign; take the place G
, honor" The placin of the condemne
{ was by accident. thus plcturesqu
) legend is dissipated.
2